DEEP: Database of Early English Playbooks

1638 Nabbes, Thomas Covent Garden

Reference Information

DEEP #: 906
Greg #: 542a(i)
STC/Wing #: 18339
Record Type: Single-Play Playbook
Play Type: Adult Professional
Genre (Annals): Comedy
 
Book Edition: 1
Play Edition: 1
Format: Quarto
Leaves: 42
Date of First Publication: 1638
Date of First Production: 1633
Company of First Production: Queen Henrietta Maria's Men
Company Attribution: Queen Henrietta Maria's Men
 
Total Editions: 1 quarto (bibliographically independent and in collection)
 
Variants: There are three issues of this edition. Greg 542a(i) contains the original title leaf dated 1638, which lists "Richard Oulton" as printer and Green as publisher. The second issue contains a cancel title leaf dated 1639, which contains different author and performance attributions; it exists in two states: Greg 542a(ii*) lists "R. O" as printer, while Greg 542a(ii†) lists "R. Oulton". Copies of both Greg 542a(i) and Greg 542a(ii†) were also issued in the 1639 Nabbes collection (STC 18337). See also Greg 542a(ii*); 542a(ii†)
 

Title-Page Features

Title: COVENT GARDEN: A PLEASANT COMEDIE:
Author: The Author THOMAS NABBES.
Performance: Acted in the YEARE, MDCXXXII. By the Queenes Majesties Servants.
Imprint: LONDON, Printed by RICHARD OULTON, for CHARLES GREENE; and are to be sold at the Signe of the White Lyon, in PAULS Church-yard. 1638.

Paratextual Material

Dedication: "The Epistle" to: John Suckling (poet); from: Thomas Nabbes [A3r]
Character List: "The Persons" [A4v]

Stationer Information

Printer: Oulton, Richard
Publisher: Greene, Charles
Bookseller: Fussell, Nicholas
Imprint Location: A.2 (Paul's Churchyard - Great North Door)
Entries in Stationers' Register: May 28, 1638: Entered to Charles Greene: "a Play called Couent Garden. by Thomas Nabbes."
 
Additional Notes: The bookseller attribution is from STC.